Mohammed Shami Not in Team India's plans for T20 World Cup squad 2022: Reports

Mohammed Shami is currently one of the most experienced and competent fast bowlers in the Indian layout but the right-arm quick is uncertain to be part of the Indian squad for the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup 2022, which is slated to be played in Australia later this year.

According to a report in news agency ANI, the India star bowler Mohammed Shami doesn't feature in the scheme of things for the T20 World Cup 2022. Notably, Shami was part of the Indian squad in the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup, which was held in UAE last year and since then he hasn't played a single T20I for India.

The 31-year-old led the pace attack of Gujarat Titans in the latest edition of the Indian Premier League, where he picked up 20 wickets in 16 matches at an average of 24.40 and an economy of 8. With a plethora of young pacers doing extremely well for the team, it will be difficult for the right-arm pacer to make a cut into the T20 World Cup 2022 squad.

“Selectors are not seeing Shami for the T20 World Cup as he is not fit for the format. Selectors want to invest in young bowlers and give them maximum chances before the World Cup in Australia. They might pick Bhuvneshwar Kumar as one of the senior bowlers but Shami could probably miss the Australia flight this time for the T20 World Cup," a source told ANI. 

Earlier Gujarat Titans' coach and former India bowler Ashish Nehra also opined on the same, stating that the 31-year-old isn't in the current scheme of things for the T20 World Cup and selectors will definitely consider him for the 2023 World Cup at home. 

"Seems like he [Moahmmed Shami] doesn't feature in the current scheme of things for the T20 World Cup. But we all know about his abilities. Even if he doesn't play in this year's T20 World Cup, India will definitely consider him for the 2023 World Cup at home," Nehra had said in a conversation with Cricbuzz. 

"We don't have many ODIs this year and Shami is on a break at the moment after the IPL. India can play him in England for the 50-over games after the Test match."

"You will play three ODI games against a top-quality white-ball team like England, and you would definitely love to beat them. And for that, you need your best bowlers. I would definitely take Shami in that bracket," Nehra concluded. 

Shami, who was rested from the five-match T20I series against South Africa at home, will return to action when India locks horns with England in the one-off Test, starting from Friday (July 1) at Edgbaston. 

The star pacer will lead the pace attack alongside Jasprit Bumrah in the one-off Test match. The one-off Test against Ben Stokes-led side is the rescheduled match, which is a part of last year’s unfinished five-match Test series.